The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 08, 2003
Filed:
Sep. 28, 2001
Birger Pahl, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Ronald R. Jahn, Cedarburg, WI (US);
William E. Berkopec, Wauwatosa, WI (US);
Slobodan Krstic, Brookfield, WI (US);
Joseph C. Zuercher, Brookfield, WI (US);
Jerome K. Hastings, Sussex, WI (US);
Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
Electrical equipment ( ) is safeguarded from damage due to parallel arc faults by a circuit that provides several levels of protection. A semiconductor switch ( ) and a current sensor ( ) are placed in series with the electrical equipment ( ). When the current to the equipment exceeds a first threshold for a predefined period of time, the semiconductor switch ( ) is rendered non-conductive until the circuit is specifically reset. When the current to the equipment exceeds a greater second threshold, a pulsed signal alternately places the semiconductor switch ( ) in conductive and non-conductive states so that the average current applied to the equipment ( ) is within an acceptable level. The pulses are measured to determine whether a parallel arc fault has occurred. When the measured pulses ( ) are within a predetermined range, a parallel arc fault is declared and the semiconductor switch ( ) is rendered non-conductive. Should the current exceed an even greater third threshold, the semiconductor switch ( ) is immediately rendered non-conductive until the circuit is manually reset.